New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-12
LIND TIY11ION.

| The discussions of the coming campaign
Will turn largely upon Mr.. Georges propose
10 tax land values, which is on other accounts
Of interest to all who seek relief for labor
from inequitablc or unnecessary burdens The
claim that such relief will come through tax
alton of land values has attracted many to
Mr.. Georges support, and 1T is important thai
his plans should be distinctly understood
Mr. George has devoted several columns III
"The Standard of last week TO a careful re-
statement of his position which will clear away
some MISUNDERSTANDING and at the same time
open the way for a statement of all valid OBJ
jcctions to his proposal.
1t is important as Mr. George urges, TO dis
trguish between taxation of land values,
which he advocates, and taxation OF land
whether of high market or rental value or OF
none, which he does not propose. Yet the
theoretical importance OF the distinction leads
Mr. George TO overlook the fact that in pIacti-
cal application the distinction scarcely has an
existence. Substantially all land IN this State
has some market value, and would have to
bear some part of the burdens which Mr.
George proposes TO take off from all improve
nents, all consumption, all invested wealth
and to put upon land values only
Mr.. George urges that this would not affect
the productiveness, nor consequently the value
in use, of the land to the farmer, but only its
selling price That, however, is exactly what
the farmer always considers His farm is not
only a machine, which will produce so many
bushels of wheat or potatoes yearly; il is also
an investment which tends to increase in
H. f,,, Mr.
knows also if he chooses to consider that "a
large share of the entire return which the
farmers Of the United States have received
for their labor and skill come from the ad
vance in the value Of the land not because
the land becomes more productive, but be-
cause population increases, towns increase,
railroads increase, manufactures increase, the
nearby demand for many products increases
OF all these gains the farmer gets his share
chiefly through advance in the selling price
OF the land in which he invests.
II this is wrongful gain, for the farmer
and for anybody else, then enterprise, fore
sight and wisdom in purchasing that which
natural causes tend TO make more valuable
are to be discouraged by deprving the farmer
Of that part of his reward. But Mr.. George
pan uocS Hot ucPi'c 1hc houSc-o"h0r VI MD
corresponding gain He buys the improve
ments on land persuaded that growth of the
State, town or city will bring him large
profit irrespective of his rent Holding for
the sake of that profit he rents for less than he
otherwise would. In time his bricks and
mortar double or quadruple in value and Mr..
Georges plan would leave him that uncarncd
increment" but would take from the farm
owner the entire advance in the value of his
land
Mr.. George has never yet shown the equity
Of this distinction. He does not hesitate to
admit in his latest article. that the tax on
land values would virtually confscatc part
Of the land; thus he says: Rents would be
no higher than before. while the selling price
Of the land would be much diminished" That